Meet Amonga99 — the solo indie dev behind Army Troop, Fix Gaming Channel’s Best Game of 2023.
Blending the grit of classic military shooters with modern gameplay, Amonga99‘s Army Troop brings back the intensity of early Call of Duty and Medal of Honor. With a focus on realism, performance, and player feedback, he’s crafted one of the most rewarding indie FPS titles on Steam.
In this exclusive interview, we explore his development journey, design choices, solo work ethic, and what’s coming next—from AI bots to full remasters and cross-genre experiments.
Army Troop Gameplay
Join Our Newsletter
Stay updated with the latest interviews, previews, and indie gaming news from Fix Gaming Channel.
Check out Fire On Fight Gameplay
Personal Journey into Game Development
Q: Your transition from gaming enthusiast to acclaimed developer is inspiring. Can you share a pivotal moment or key influence that propelled you from player to creator?
A: A friend told me for the first time that software for making video games existed when I was a child. It was called GameMaker from gamemaker.nl at that time, created by Marc Overmars. This masterpiece of software was the starting point of my developer life.
Philosophy Behind Game Audio Choices
Q: In Army Troop and Fire on Fight, the emphasis on realistic sound effects over music creates an immersive battlefield ambiance. What drives your audio choices, and how do you see them enhancing the player’s immersion?
A: My audio choices are inspired by modern war game sound effects. Playing these games makes me really love them, so I try to bring that same feeling to my players.
Crafting Games Solo vs. Team Collaboration
Q: Behind every great game is a great creator or team. Do you prefer the solo journey in bringing your visions to life, or is collaboration part of your creative arsenal? How has this approach shaped your games?
A: I prefer working solo so I can create every part of the game as I see fit. Collaboration requires trustworthy people with great skills, and sharing revenue can be challenging, so I work solo.
Engaging with Player Feedback
Q: Player feedback can be a goldmine for developers. Can you share how feedback has directly influenced a game’s development? Is there a particular piece of advice from the community that stands out?
A: Listening to the community is key to making a game perfect. For example, players helped me discover FPS drop issues in the initial release of Fire on Fight. A player named Rommel on Steam identified that the issue was CPU-related, not GPU-related. Thanks to the community, the engine is now more robust with fewer bugs.
Essential Skills in Game Development
Q: Beyond the obvious need for creativity and technical skills, what do you consider the unsung heroes of game development skills? How do these play into your work?
A: If you enjoy playing games, that’s all you need to start. Just download Unity, and your life becomes easier.
From Gaming to Game Development
Q: Many of our readers dream of making their own games. Having successfully made that leap, what advice would you offer to those looking to transition from gaming or content creation into game development?
A: Download Unity software and start learning today. In a few months, you can do it. Unity makes things easier every day, so why wait?
Future Projects and Excitements
Q: Looking ahead, can you tease any upcoming projects or new genres you’re exploring? What excites you most about your next gaming adventure? Additionally, considering your utilization of AI “players” in your games, how do you envision AI impacting your work and the gaming industry in the near future?
A: Upcoming projects include:
Lethal Company Ghost Reconnaissance
For AI, I use my programming to simulate players as bots. I don’t use modern AI, so I’m not sure how it will impact the industry.
Indie Versus Major Studio Path
Q: In the game development world, creators often face a choice between pursuing an indie path or joining a major studio. From your perspective, what are the most significant benefits and challenges of working as an indie developer? Have you ever considered or been approached to bring your talents to a larger studio, and what factors influence your decision in this regard?
A: I prefer working as an indie developer to create exactly what I love. I’ve had bad experiences working for large studios, where you are pressured to follow directives. Despite the marketing challenges, I prefer the freedom of the indie path.
Cross-Genre Exploration
Q: When venturing into a new genre, what’s your process for capturing the essence of that style, and how do you ensure it resonates with the game’s intended audience? For instance, your game Super Spyroxo Adventures: Island of Dnfoo stands in stark contrast to Army Troop.
A: I experiment with different genres to see what sells best on Steam and because I’m a big fan of old games. I occasionally release classic arcade games while keeping an eye on modern games, like Army Troop Remastered, to stay relevant.
Inspiration Beyond Gaming
Q: Could you share some unconventional inspirations behind your games? How have aspects of film, literature, art, or even personal experiences influenced your game design and development?
A: I am inspired by old arcade games and modern games like Call of Duty. I try to blend modern graphics with the classic feel.
Platform Expansion and Accessibility
Q: Your games have captured the hearts of many within the PC gaming community. Are there plans to bring your unique gaming experiences to consoles like Xbox, PlayStation, or the Nintendo Switch?
A: I am still investigating this. Maybe I will bring them to consoles in the future.
High-Performance Rigs for Development
Q: What does a game developer require from a high-performance rig, such as one equipped with 16 CPU cores, 128GB RAM, and a powerful GPU like the 4090? Can you get by with less powerful hardware, and if so, what are the essential hardware specifications for game development?
A: Wow, such hardware is a beast! I develop everything with a MacBook Pro i7, 4GB GPU, and 16GB RAM. Developing on weaker hardware ensures the game works well on stronger PCs. If you test on a powerful PC, the game might perform poorly on weaker PCs.
Networking and Inspirations
Q: Before we part ways, I’d love to hear if there are any fellow developers, teams, actors, sound engineers, or publishers you admire or find particularly intriguing. Big or small, if they’re crafting interesting experiences, we’d be thrilled to invite them to join our ever-growing family of game enthusiasts and creators. Any shout-outs or recommendations for our next potential guest?
A: Please try to find Marc Overmars, the creator of GameMaker. He inspired me to become a developer.
If you missed our full writeup on why Army Troop was named Best Game of 2023, you can read it here.
With exciting projects like Army Troop Remastered and Polygon Bit Battle Royale on the horizon, it’s clear that Amonga99 isn’t slowing down anytime soon. His hands-on approach to AI-driven gameplay and openness to console platforms show a developer who’s always looking ahead—innovating without losing touch with what made us fall in love with his games in the first place.
A huge thank you to Amonga99 for taking the time to speak with us and share his story. Your passion, dedication, and creativity continue to inspire—and we can’t wait to see what you build next.
Written by Ronny Fiksdahl, Founder & Editor of Fix Gaming Channel.
Enjoy our content? Support Fix Gaming Channel with a donation via
Buy Me a Coffee to help keep independent game journalism alive.
